Monument Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results Gross Revenue of $4.50 Million and Cash Cost of US$948/Oz
November 29, 2017 News Release Release #16 - 2017
Monument Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results
Gross Revenue of $4.50 Million and Cash Cost of US$948/Oz
Vancouver, B.C ., November 29, 2017, Monument Mining Limited (TSX -V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) “Monument” or the
“Company” today announced its first quarter production and financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2017.
All amounts are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated (refer to www.sedar.com for full financial results).
President and CEO Robert Baldock commented on first quarter fiscal 2018 financial results: “The Company continued to
development it’s Malaysian and Western Australian gold portfolios. At Selinsing, we closed the Felda Block 7 transaction ,
completed a close spaced drilling program at Peranggih North , and continued the Front End Engineering Design (“FEED”)
study for the Sulphide Project. At Murchison, we commenced the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) at Burnakura.”
First Quarter Highlights:
3,500oz of gold sold for gross revenue of $4.50 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: 2,350oz of gold sold for gross revenue of $3.14
million);
3,384oz of gold produced (Q1 fiscal 2017: 3,291oz);
Cash cost per ounce (“oz”) of $948/oz (Q1 fiscal 2017: $981/oz);
Closed Felda Block 7 transaction at Selinsing;
Completed close spaced drilling program at Peranggih North;
A FEED study being carried out on Selinsing to deliver an Implementation Execution Plan for the Sulphide Project; and
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) commenced at Burnakura.
First Quarter Production and Financial Highlights
Three months ended September 30,
2017 2016
Production
Ore mined (tonnes) 30,694 61,882
Ore processed (tonnes) 221,536 231,000
Average mill feed grade (g/t) 0.61 0.56
Processing recovery rate (%) 64.3% 53.9%
Gold production(1) (oz) 3,384 3,291
Gold sold (oz) 3,500 2,350
Financial (in thousands of US dollars) $ $
Revenue 4,502 3,142
Gross margin from mining operations 1,184 836
Net loss before other items (1,060) (824)
Net loss (1,504) (1,442)
Cash flows generated from (used in) operations 1,974 (2,115)
Working capital 25,030 28,660
Loss per share before other items – basic (US$/share) (0.00) (0.00)
Loss per share – basic (US$/share) (0.00) (0.00)
Three months ended September 30,
2017 2016
Other US$/oz US$/oz
Average realized gold price per ounce sold 1,286 1,337
Cash cost per ounce (2)
Mining 178 195
Processing 703 716
Royalties 64 66
Operations, net of silver recovery 2 4
Total cash cost per ounce 948 981
(1) Defined as good delivery gold bullion according to London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”), net of gold doŕe in transit and refinery adjustment.
(2) Total cash cost includes production costs such as mining, processing, tailing facility maintenance and camp administration, r oyalties, and operating costs such as storage, temporary mine production
closure, community development cost and property fees, ne t of by -product credits. Cash cost excludes amortization, depletion, accretion expenses, capital costs, exploration costs and corpora te
administration costs.
Production Results
First quarter gold production was 3,384oz, a 3% increase compared to 3,291oz in the corresponding period of the previous
year. Production included stockpiled super low grade oxide ore and old tailing materials during the quarter that contained
higher head grade and oxidized ore resulting in an improved processing recovery r ate of 64.3% compared to 53.9% for the
same quarter last year. Ore processed was reduced by 4% to 221,536t from 231,000t in the same period last year. The reduced
mill feed was mainly due to plant downtime caused by blockages at belt feeder chutes from wet and sticky old tailings
materials, resulting in lower crushed tonnes. Mining production is expected to improve with the commencement of mining at
Felda Block 7 in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.
Financial Results and Discussion
Gold sales generated $4.50 million for the quarter compared to $3.14 million in the same period last year. The revenue resulted
from 3,500oz of gold sold (Q1 fiscal 201 7: 2,350oz) at an average realized gold price of $ 1,286 per ounce (Q1 fiscal 201 7:
$1,337 per ounce) for the quarter. The average London Fix PM gold price was $1, 286 per ounce for the quarter compared to
$1,203 per ounce for the same period last year.
Total production costs increased by 44% in the quarter to $3. 32 million, compared to $ 2.31 million in the same pe riod last
year. The increase in costs reflected the higher amount of gold produced and sold in the prior year first quarter, while fixed
costs of production remained at the same level.
For the first quarter, mining operations before non-cash amortization and depreciation generated a gross margin of $1.18
million, an increase of 42% from $0.84 million in the same quarter last year. Net loss from mining operations was $0.24
million compared to $0.10 million in the same period last year primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization expense.
Corporate expenditure for the first quarter were $0.82 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: $0.73 million) increased by $0.09 million or
12% compared to the prior year first quarter . Net loss for the quarter was $1.50 million, or $0.00 per share (basic) compared
to net loss of $1.44 million or $0.00 per share (basic) in the same period last year.
As at September 30, 2017, the Company had positive working capital $15.39 million (June 30, 2017: $14.81 million), net of
restricted cash. An increase of $0.59 million was the result of cash received from deferred revenue and generated from
operations, offset by investing activities carried out by the Company to expand its mineral base and pipeline of mine ral
property projects.
The Company’s first quarter development at Selinsing focused on exploration and evaluation work on a close spaced drilling
program at Peranggih North in an area planned for fiscal 2018 trial mining, and at Murchison work towards a PEA continued.
During the quarter, cash investment in exploration and evaluation activities totalled $0.42 million compared to $1.48 million
in the corresponding period last year, cash of $0.15 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: $0.39 million) cash was used for the Selinsing
Gold Portfolio in Malaysia, $0.24 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: $0.99 million) was used for the Murchison Gold Portfolio in
Australia and $0.03 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: $0.10 million) was used for care and maintenance for the Mengapur Polymetallic
Portfolio. During the quarter, cash expenditure on property, plant and equipment (“PPE”) was $1.95 million, compared to
$1.28 million in the same period last year. The main PPE expenditures in the quarter were $1.47 million for the acquisition
of mining leases at Felda Block 7, $0.38 million on tailings storage facility upgrades and $0.19 million on the Sulphide Project
for Selinsing in Malaysia and $0.05 million (Q1 fiscal 2017: $0.58 million) on the Burnakura early stage production
development in Australia.
Acquisition
During the quarter, the Company closed the Block 7 acquisition by paying consideration in aggregate of $1.39 million in cash
to the owners pursuant to the Contract to Mine Agreement. The acquisition has given to the Company the exclusive mining
right for all PMLs at Block 7, covering a total 39.12 acres adjacent and east of the Buffalo Reef property.
Block 7 contains the extension of the BRC oxide ore body which is now placed to production. It also allows the pit shell to
be fully developed across the boundary to access the entire sulphide ore beneath the BRC once the Sulphide Gold Project is
in production.
Development
Selinsing Gold Mine
During the first quarter the Company continued to advance the internal Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for the Sulphide
Project. Samples of flotation concentrate were prepared on -site by the Research and Development team and disp atched to
SGS South Africa for analysis. BIOX process testwork was conducted. Initial sulphide oxidation results were positive and the
full report including gold dissolution of the BIOX residues is in progress. Variability flotation concentrate samples were also
prepared to test the optimized BIOX operating parameters on different ore sources from the Selinsing and Buffalo Reef pits.
The FEED study also progressed during the quarter with selection of specialist contractors for geotechnical studies on th e
proposed plant site, for an expansion to the existing tailings storage facility and to undertake a study on slope stability i n the
Selinsing and Buffalo Reef open pits. Consultants were engaged to determine the additional high voltage power requirement
for the expanded plant and to determine an economically feasible solution for the increased power draw. Internal studies were
initiated to address the additional clean water demand for the BIOX plant and to gauge the requirements for expanded site
water storage facilities. The DFS and FEED studies are scheduled to be completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2018, to
facilitate a construction decision for the Sulphide Project.
Mine site preparation was carried at Block 7. Upgrade to the tailings storage facilities was also completed during quarter using
144,161t of waste removed from Buffalo Reef.
Burnakura Project
The Company advanced mine optimization work at Burnakura and commenced Preliminary Economic Assessment Study
(“PEA”) on the Burnakura life of mine areas with exploring underground potential. The PEA is planned for completion in the
third quarter of fiscal 2018. Activities during the quarter included review of proposed scope of work and schedule and the
compilation of data for geological sections. Ongoing work on the potential underground at NOA2 and 7_8 also continued
with a revision of the NOA 7_8 underground model. The work is continuing with geological model updates for an underground
mining study also to be included in the PEA.
Site preparation and development for early stage production is on -going. During the quarter, all the bench frames were
installed in the wet lab ready for the bench tops, a road works program was undertaken to improve access to the camp area
from the process plant and fabrication work was undertaken in the workshop to repair screen frames. The Company has
ensured that the plant and other facilities are being kept in good care and maintenance order with a view to future
commissioning, and the site accommodation and catering are fully functional for engineers and mining contractors to arrive
on site.
Mengapur Project
In August 2017, the Company signed a Deed of Variation Agreement with Intec International Projects Pty Ltd to the Heads
of Agreement dated in January 2015 to exploit the Intec Technology for the sulphide copper process. The testwork going
forward with Intec will be focused on production of copper metal at the Mengapur P roject. Pursuant to the Deed, the term of
the interim Intec license granted to Monument has been extended to January 16, 2022.
Exploration Progress
Malaysia
A grade control drilling campaign was completed at Peranggih North, for planned trial mining in fiscal 2018. The highly
prospective Peranggih deposit is in the same regional shearing structure where Selinsing and Buffalo Reef gold deposits are
also hosted. A total of 298 drill holes were completed for 2,780m, and 2,725 samples collected. The holes w ere designed
following East-West staggered lines, configuring a 5m x 5m drilling pattern, infilling previous holes and trenches. The drilling
has delineated a zone of higher grade material, and can b e used to define shallow and broad gold mineralization wi thin the
breccia matrix that occurs at this site.
The preliminary grade control program was carried out at the North zone to test 150m strike length x 80m width of the
mineralization. This program has successfully delineated a broad 15m-20m wide high grade zone and multiple isolated high
grade zones, surrounded by a halo of lower grade gold mineralisation. It proved the presence of disseminated gold in the
breccia matrix. The high and low grade gold mineralization zones were open ended along strike and d own-dip. Separate
composite samples were fully defined, sorted by ore blocks with delineation based on 2m composites, for further metallurgical
testwork. Geological mapping at old pit in Peranggih North was conducted.
During the quarter, geo-metallurgical testwork was completed at Felda and modelling started which aims to identify potential
leachable gold for oxide and transition zones. 27 limestone samples were collected from the Selinsing Pits IV and V hanging
walls, to test Acid Neutral isation Capacity for potential use in the Sulphide Project. Dry bulk density tests were done to
determine the in-situ density for the outcropping limestone. 245 core and coarse reject samples of fresh and transition material,
were collected and sent to the on-site laboratory for BIOX® Process variability metallurgical testwork.
Western Australia
At the Murchison Gold Portfolio geological work aims to deliver a Preliminary Economic Assessment Study (“PEA”) at the
Burnakura Gold Project to further demonstrate the economic viability of early stage production. At Burnakura further updates
are being done to the geological model and optimization of the mine plan including testing underground mining opportunities,
and other ongoing work includes the review of significant underground potential at the NOA line of deposits. NOA 7_8 was
internally re-modelled with implicit geological modelling techniques, allo wing underground assessment works to continue.
The updated model will now provide the correct resolution and detail needed progress underground mining studies. A
compilation of the historical resource model plus ANA NI43-101 resources and internal resource model updates are ongoing
for a preparation of the PEA . The Company also s igned the agreement with Yamatiji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation
(“YMAC”) for Heritage Survey
At Tuckanarra a review on the Resource model evaluation is ongoing, with focus on the life of mine proposed mining pits.
An in-depth review of the Cable deposit was completed resulting in a re -modelling exercise. At Gabanintha a review on the
Resource model evaluation is ongoing, with focus on the life of mine proposed mining pits.
About Monument
Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE:D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the
Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is advancing several
exploration and development projects including the Mengapur Polymetallic Project, in Pahang State of Malaysia, and the
Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra in the Murchison area of Western Australia .
The Company employs approximately 190 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental
management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities .
Robert F. Baldock, President and CEO
Monument Mining Limited
Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact:
Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 [email protected]
Wolfgang Seybold, Axino GmbH T: +49 711-82 09 7211 [email protected]
"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes statements containing forward -looking information about Monument, its business and future plans (“forward -looking
statements”). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include
the Company’s plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward -looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and
phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achiev ed". The forward-looking
statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general
business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in
the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the
management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company’s projects, all of which are avail able under the profile of
the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to devel op forward-looking statements in this news release include:
expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generat ed from the operations,
general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration
on the Company’s projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimat ed future production; th e
expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration
activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the
Company and the technical reports on the Company’s projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on S EDAR at www.sedar.com.
Although the Company has attempted to identify i mportant factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward -
looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except
in accordance with applicable securities laws.